Flyers; Timomen to give it one more shot, Lecavalier's future unclear

FILE - In this April 27, 2014 file photo, Philadelphia Flyers' Kimmo Timonen, of Finland, reacts during the third period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series against the New York Rangers, in New York. The Flyers have signed defenseman Timonen to a one-year contract extension. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

Kimmo Timonen will be 40 years old when he tries to will his body through another season stretch drive and playoff run next spring, or at least that’s the optimistic plan.

For the Flyers, they are only hoping that by then, Timonen would have spent the previous several months looking like the biggest bargain signing in the league.

Strapped along salary cap lines and with precious little depth maneuverability on their back line, the Flyers first admitted they needed a Timonen return more than he needed one, then Friday found themselves celebrating a one-year agreement with their veteran defensive leader.

“I think it’s (a) pretty easy (decision) when you can get a player like Kimmo under contract,” Flyers general manager Ron Hextall said. “But what’s the biggest key is whether Kimmo thinks he can play and whether Kimmo has enough in the tank to go through another offseason and be in shape in September. When you talk to a lot of guys who have been around a long time that’s probably the hardest part.”

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Actually, in the modern cap world, the hardest part is always the economic side of the equation. And with young defender and would-be Timonen replacement Erik Gustafsson having decided after the season to pursue a deal with the KHL in Russia rather than return to the club, it could have been an even more difficult problem to solve.

But Timonen had already been hinting at that point that he could make Hextall’s life a little easier. Though terms of the contract were no released, a report on ESPN.com says Timonen has signed for a base salary of $2 million, which represents a 66 percent pay cut off his 2013-2014 salary.

But the report indicated Timonen could as much as double that salary figure if he reaches a variety of incentive standards and attained other bonus marks included in the contract language.

For one, Hextall seems to think Timonen could do just that.

“We all watched Kimmo this year; he’s still an effecitve player,” Hextall said. “He’s maybe not 25 years old anymore, but he’s a realy smart player. So that really didn’t come into my thought process whatsoever. It’s more whether Kimmo thinks he can play. Based on what I saw this past season, he can help us. He’s a mentor for the young players and he’s a stabilizing factor for us on the back line.”

Oh, and as for the absence of Gustafsson from the equation...

“That didn’t come into play,” Hextall said.

WIth restricted free agents Brayden Schenn and Jason Akeson still to be signed, and with a veteran backup goalie also likely needed — might be Ray Emery, might not be — the Flyers were thought to be about $6.5 million below the presumed payroll max for next season before Timonen signed. That still leaves a lot of creative work to be done to fill out their roster and remain in compliance.

One way that could easily be accomplished, however, is if somewhere along the line they find it possible to shave Vinny Lecavalier’s $4 million-plus off their cap going forward.

Coming off a 20 goal season that one and all felt was a disappointing one, last summer’s free agent splash signing by Paul Holmgren isn’t looking so good now.

Given the chance Friday to dispel any notion that Lecavalier might not be a rock solid part of the future plan, Hextall seemed to leave an alternative door wide open.

Hextall admitted he’s “had discussions” with Lecavalier’s representative Kent Hughes, and added, “I’m not going to discuss where it’s going, because quite frankly, I don’t know. It’s something we’ll deal with internally here and when we come up with something, we’ll let you guys know.”

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NOTES: In other contract based news, Hextall said he’s been “playing phone tag” with Brayden Schenn’s agent and that talks toward a contract extension for him have yet to begun. But Hextall expects them to soon, calling it, “our top priority.” As for Ray Emery, Hextall indicated the Flyers would do everything they could to count their remaining cap pennies before making a call one way or another on a backup goalie. Hextall thus called Emery’s situation “on hold.” Don’t be surprised if someone signs him before the Flyers can take the goalie off hold at the July 1 commencement for unrestricted free agents.